Holder for a bedreader



Oct. 13, 1959 N. R.-LYKES 2,908,465

HOLDER FOR A BEDREADER Filed Nov. 1 1957 INVENTOR.

' An W IZ s United States Patent HOLDER FOR A BEDREADER Norman R. Lykes, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Application November 18, 1957, Serial No. 697,033

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-166) This invention relates to improvements in devices for holding books, or magazines, or copy material. It was especially designed for use in conjunction with the applicants copy holding device for reading stand, which permits easy page-turning in an overhead position and for which the commissioner of patents granted Patent Number 2,807,908 on Oct. 1, 1957.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an economical, versatile holding means so that the aforementioned patented book holder may be used as:

(a) A bed readerthat is, a device for holding a book or magazine overhead with adjustments for height and angle of slant.

(b) A chair reader-a device for holding a book or magazine with adjustments for height and slant in front of, or at the side of, a person desirous of reading in a sedentary position.

(c) A copy stand for typists for holding copy material directly behind a typewriter rather than at the side. Studies reveal that errorless typing speed is increased an average 20 percent when turning the head back and forth to copy at the side is eliminated.

(d) A portable lectern.

(e) A music stand which permits the musicians legs to stretch out and relax in front, underneath the music sheets.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a light, easy-to-handle device which with little effort can be stored flat against a closet wall like a card table.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device supporting the patented book holder and straddling a bed reader.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the holder showing how it may be used as a copy stand for typists, a music stand,

a chair reader, and as a portable lectern.

Figure 3 is a top elevation of a cross-sectional detail demonstrating the height adjustment.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a detail showing how the book holder is supported when used as a portable lectern, a copy stand for typists and a music stand.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating how the device may be stored flat, with feet turned in, against a wall.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the patented copy holding device for reading stand is designated generally by 9. The book or magazine is held in place at any angle by the two vertical elastic bands or springs 18, which are secured at their lower ends to shelf and at their upper knotted ends in notches 15. The horizontal page retainer 13 is held in place by an elastic band or spring 14 around the rear. The retainer 13 holds open pages which are to be read and are not held down by vertical bands 18. When the device holds a book overhead, page turning is achieved by pulling down page retainer 13, turning the page, and then replacing the bar approximately across the middle of the pages.

When placing a book or magazine on the holder, the horizontal retainer 13 may rest against pegs 11. The band 14 is prevented from slipping off the holder 9 by pegs 12.

Adjustment of angle or slant is permitted by friction hinge 8 in conjunction with cylindrical arm 7. This arm may be attached to cross piece 3 by one of two means: When the holder is used as a bed reader or chair reader, the free end of hinged arm 7 is inserted into hole 22 of crosspiece 3. This is shown in Figure 2 where the book holder is drawn in broken lines and designated as 9a. When used as a music stand, portable lectern, or copy stand for typists as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the hinged arm 7 is placed against center fluted groove 19 and held in place by bolt and wingnut 17 through small hole 21 in crosspiece 3 and hole 23 near the end of hinged arm 7.

Hinged arm 7 could easily be rectangular, or triangular, or any other shape rather than cylindrical, and hole 22 similarly shaped to receive the arm.

crosspiece 3 is secured at the desired height by J-bolt 5 pressing vertical cylindrical legs 1 into fluted grooves 20. The J-bolts are tightened by female threaded knobs 4. Large wingnuts could be used in place of knobs 4. The J-bolts also could be tightened by cam levers or other means.

Any of the three crosspiece grooves 19 and 20 could just as well be triangular, or rectangular, or otherwise shaped instead of the cylindrical shape illustrated.

Legs 1 are maintained in a vertical position by nearly horizontal feet 2. Legs 1 and feet 2 are cross-notched and bolted. Foot 2 should originate out of leg 1 a few inches from the bottom to allow for bumps or unevenness on a bed or blanket where the device might be used.

Figure 5 shows how the devices feet 2 may be turned inwardly so that it may be stored flat against a wall. Shelf 10 of bookholder 9 is hung over crosspiece 3.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a supporting structure for a book holding device, a pair of laterally spaced leg portions, said leg portions secured near their lower extremities to a pair of feet structures projecting outwardly, said leg portions adjustably secured to a single horizontal crosspiece structure having a pair of laterally spaced vertical grooves against which said leg portions are clamped by means of threaded J-bolts and nuts through holes adjacent to said vertical grooves, said crosspiece portion approximately in its cen ter having a third vertical groove and a plurality of holes for receiving the hinged arm of a book holding device, said hinged arm secured vto said supporting structure either by insertion of. said arm through said crosspiece center hole, or by securing said arm vertically against said center vertical groove by means of a nut and bolt through holes through said center vertical crosspiece groove and through said book holding devices hinged arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,244,773 Hawk June 10, 1941 2,327,990 Benson Aug. 31, 1943 2,528,990 Atwood Nov. 7, 1950 2,808,908 Lykes Oct. 1, 1957 2,828,577 Anderson Apr. 1, 1958 

